Load equalizer for deep well pumps



Sept. 29, 1936. o, D, LE BLANC LOAD EQUALIZER FOR DEEP WELL PUMPS Filed Oct. 28, 1935 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES LOAD EQUALIZER FOR. DEEP WELL-PUMPS t Oliver D .Le BIancQTrees, Lae' U Q; Application October28, 1935, Serial No. 4*1,1 '75- mins- (01. roe-easy I I This invention relates to a load equalizer for deep well pumps, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which will minimize vibration to deep well pumps and thereby reduce wear to the pump parts and the well tubing and reduce to a minimum repairs and the pulling of sucker rods and labor costs incident thereto and which will permit pumps to be operated at a higher rate of speed to increase the pump output.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understand of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a load equalizer for deep well pumps showing the same adapted to a well tubing.

Figure 2 is a top plan View, partly in section, showing the equalizer.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the valve of the equalizer.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I indicates in entirety a load equalizer unit adapted to be connected between sections of the pump tubing 2. The unit I consists of a casing 3 having upper and lower necks 4 and 5. The upper neck 4 is internally screw threaded to receive the screw threaded end of one of the sections of the well tubing and also the upper end of a tube 6, the latter extending downwardly through the easing 3 into the neck 5. The tube 6 forms a continuation of the well tubing through the casing 3 and provides in the latter an equalizing chamber I.

The neck 5 consists of a coupling 8 equipped with packing 9 and to which is threaded the lower end of the tube 6. nects to another section of the well tubing. The sucker rod ID if the pump (not shown) extends through the well tubing and the tube 6. The sucker rod is of a conventional construction and is reciprocated to elevate liquid upwardly through the tubing.

The casing 3 includes sections detachably connected by screw threads, as shown at I0, and slidably mounted in the chamber 1 of said casing is a float II equipped at opposite ends with cups I2 which frictionally contact the walls of the casing. The float II separates the upper portion of the The coupling 8 conchamber 1 from the lower portion. The cups I2 besides contacting the casing also contact the tube 6. The purpose of the float I I and the cups I2 thereof is to separate an air column from a liquid column in the casing orthe chamber I thereof. The air column is located in the upper portion of the casingand acts to absorb shocks due to the column of liquid being lifted by the upward movement of the sucker rod. A port I3 is formed in the tube 6 below the float II and associated therewith is a flap valve I4, pivotally mounteoL'asshown at I5. The flap valve opens outwardly in the chamber I from the tube 6. However, when moved in an opposite direction will close the port I3 and has a rib I6 which projects into the tube 6 when the flap valve is in the last-named position or in the position of closing the port I3. The rib I6 is disposed vertically and tapers towards its upper end.

Fittings l1 and I8 are provided in the top wall of the casing and have therein outwardly seating check valves l9 which act to trap air in the chamber I. The fitting I8 is employed for connecting a pipe of a compressor to the chamber I while the fitting I1 is employed for connecting a pressure gauge to the chamber 1. The pressure gauge is not shown and forms no part of the present invention and is only employed when desiring to ascertain the air pressure in the chamber 1 and is of a type when fitted in the chamber 1 will unseat the valve I9 thereof to place the gauge in communication with the chamber 1.

The float I I has a removable plug 20 so that shot or small weights may be placed in the float II when desiring to increase the weight of said float.

The device described is especially adaptable for pumps employed in deep wells and the unit is installed between two sections of a well tubing and air is forced into the chamber I with the port I3 closed by the flap valve I4. The unit is lowered into the well with the well tubing having the sucker rod II] of the pump extending therethrough. The air pressure is built up until it is equal to the load of the column of liquid in the well tubing above the unit. The upstroke of the sucker rod elevating the column of water below the unit will bring about vibration to the pump by said column of liquid contacting the column of liquid above the unit and to absorb this vibration the column of liquid elevated below the unit when contacting the column of liquid above the unit passes into the lower portion of the chamber 1 by way of the port I3 and. compresses the column of air therein permitting the latter to absorb the shock. During the downstroke of the sucker rod the expansion of the air column forces liquid from the lower portion of the chamber 1 back through the port i3 and upwardly through the tube 6. Thus it will be seen that the column of air absorbs shock, thereby reduces vibration and acts as a load equalizer. The float between the column of air and the liquid prevents commingling thereof. The float II is movable with the liquid and the column of air and. acts as a separator.

After the column of air has been built up to a desired pressure in the chamber 1 and the unit is lowered into the well, the flap valve. ll may stick and not open the port l3 so the rib I5 is provided on the flap valve to be engaged by the sucker rod during the lowering of the latter or the usual cups on said sucker rod which will unseat the flap valve and bring about opening oftheport. M

A device of the character described will reduce wear on well tubing as well as the parts of the pump by the reduction of vibration to a minimum and also will relieve fatigue in sucker rods. By reducing wear on the pump, and its parts it will also materially reduce the number of times that a pump must be disassembled in order to make repairs thereto. Y o

By reducing the peak load on the pump and dis,- tributing it over a greater are of the crank shaft of the pump it enables operating the pump at a high rate of speed thereby increasing the output of the pump.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. A load equalizer for deep well pumps comprising a casing connecting sections of a well tubing, a tube located in said casing for connecting said sections of the well tubing for the passing of a column of liquid from one section of the well tubing to the other section of said well tubing, and having a port communicative with said casing, means for controlling said port, a flap valve for controlling said port, and means on said casing to permit connecting of an air supply means to the space between said casing and the tube for developing therein an air column to act against a liquid column in said casing from the tube by way of said port, and a slidable separator in said casing separating the air column from the liquid column.

2. A load equalizer for deep well pumps comprising a casing connecting sections of a well tubing, a tube located in said casing for connecting said sections of the well tubing for the passing of a column of liquid from one section of the well tubing to the other section of said well tubing, and having a port communicative with said casing, means for controlling said port, a flap valve for controlling said port, means on said casing to permit connecting of an air supply means to the space between said casing and the tube for developing therein an air column to act against a liquid column in said casing from the tube by way of said port, a slidable separator in said casing separating the air column from the liquid, and means for varying the weight of said separator.

OLIVER D. LE BLANC. 

